Signal-lamp for railways



Patented Aug. 9, I898.

E. s. MANNING. SIGNAL LAMP run NRAILWAYS, &c.

(Application fired Jung 1a, 1896.)

(No Model.)

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EDWARD S. MANNING, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

SIG MAL-LAM P FOR RAILVVAYS, dec.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,695, dated August 9, 1898. Application filed June 13,1896. Serial No. 595,484. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. MANNING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and-State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal-Lamps forRailways and other Uses where Signal-Lamps are Required; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

-My invention relates to signal lanterns or lamps particularly adapted for use on railways, and has for its object primarily to provide an improved construction of the same adapted for use either as a hand-lantern or as alantern supported from a suitable bracket on the rear ear of a train, or even as a switchlantern, and which will effectually prevent the lenses of the same from being discolored bysmoke and other products of combustion.

Further objects of my invention are to effectually retain the oil-reservoir and burner, together with its globe, in place even when the lantern is swung in the air and at the same time to permit a ready access to and complete removal from the casing of the oilreservoir, burner, and globe, whereby a perfeet combustion will be maintained, while at the same time there will be no danger of the lantern being affected when exposed to a strong wind or gale.

These objects I accomplish inthe manner and by the means hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which the figure is a vertical longitudinal section of the complete lantern.

In the said drawing the reference-numeral 1 denotes the lantern frame or casing, the same being provided with the front and side lenses or glasses 2, which may be white or colored, as may be desired. Attached in any suitable manner to the base of said casing is a suitable bracket 3, by which to support said lantern on the end of a car when desired. Formed in the interior bottom of said casing is a socket 4, within which the oil-reservoir 5 of the lamp is adapted to be removably located, the said oil-reservoir carrying any suit able burner 6, as shown. This socket is preferably formed in one side with an offset 7, in which is adapted to fit the enlargement 8 on the oil-reservoir, said enlargement having fixed therein a standard 9, for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

To the top of the casing 1 is preferably hinged a cover 10, the same being provided with suitable fastening devices for holding it closed and also carrying a bail or handle 11, pivoted thereto, for the use of the operator.

Fixed to the top of the oil-reservoir 5 is a rigid perforated cylinder 12, in which is adapted to be placed and supported an ordinary lam p-globe 13, the latter being limited in its movement into said cylinder by its own configuration, as shown, thereby affording a free passage for air through the perforations in said cylinder to the burner 6 to support combustion, a sufficient supply being first admitted to the casing 1 through the annular apertures 14c.

The cover 10 of the lantern is provided with an interior central cylinder 15, apertured at 16 and carrying at its lower end an apertured collar 17, projecting into the casing 1 and adapted to engage with the upper end of the globe 13 when the cover 10 is in its closed position, as shown. Perforations 18 in the cover 10 admit a supply of air to the annular chamber 19, formed between the cover proper and the cylinder 15, and thus promotes an upward draft, whereby the prod: nets of combustion are aided in their passage through the perforations 16 in the cylinder 15, itobeing understood that the upper end of this chamber 19 is open to permit the escape of the products of combustion.

From the above description the operation of my improved device will be understood to be as follows: When the parts are all in their proper position, as shown, air will pass in through the apertures 14: and through the perforated cylinder 12 and afford a perfect supply to the burner 6 within the globe 13. 1 At the same time an additional supply of air is aiforded to the top of the globe through the apertured collar 17 and a most perfect eom- IOO bustion maintained, the products of combustion passing out through the apertures 16,

being aided somewhat by the draft established through the apertures 18, as hereinbefore described.

It will be noticed that the support afforded the globe 13 between the cylinder 12 and the collar 17 will serve to maintain said globe firmly in place so long as the cover 10 remains closed and that the lantern may be swung at will or even completely inverted without danger.

When it is desired to remove the oil-reservoir 5, it is only necessary to remove the cover 10, which releases the upper end of the globe 13, when by grasping the upper end of the standard 9 the oil-reservoirand globe may be lifted from the casing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a signal-lantern, the combination with a casing having lens-openings therein and a lamp-receiving socket in its base said casing being provided with vent-openings at or near the bottom thereof, of a movable cover having vent-openings therein, a lamp adapted to rest in said socket, a globe for said lamp, and means for retaining said globe in position between said lamp and casing-cover and for admitting air thereto at top and bottom, substantially as set forth.

2. In a signal-lantern, the combination with a casing having lens-openings therein and a lamp-receiving socket in its base said casing being provided with vent-openings at or near the bottom thereof, of a movable cover having vent-openings therein, a depending apertured collar 011 the cover projecting into the casing, a lamp, an apertured cylinder thereon, and a globe supported and held in position by said cylinder and collar, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWVARD S. MANNING.

Witnesses:

H. I. MILLS, D. WM. BOWEN. 

